This large vibrant painting on textured heavy watercolour paper features a pair of handsome monkeys in a tropical jungle of palms, and Cymbidium Orchids in varying hues of blue.

I paint for pure pleasure and love to paint things that make me happy; things I'd like to look at or see on my own walls. This piece is inspired by my fascination with old natural history illustrations and reminds me of the beautiful luxurious wall panels you'd see in Parisian Apartments in the 18th Century, it belongs in a room filled with parlour palms and ferns, decadent high tea, macarons served on bone china and a fresh glass of Champagne!
I like to paint with Chinese calligraphy brushes and use a limited colour palette, to allow the paint colours to bleed into one another on the page. Some areas are quite opaque and flat, and others are a watery wash.

My current paintings are inspired by old animal and plant engravings, and the crazy mix of tropical plant species growing wild in my neighbours’ front gardens. I live in the inner city of Sydney and my surroundings are a mix of victorian terrace houses and lots of amazing bird and plant life. Hang this on your wall for a daily dose of 'don't worry be happy'.